Angry defensive steps up in Baylor's beatdown victory over Kansas

Published 11:25 pm, Saturday, November 1, 2014

WACO — After stewing over a disappointing loss at West Virginia for the past two weeks, Baylor couldn’t wait to play again.

“It was real tough because all we thought about was that last game,” Baylor junior defensive end Shawn Oakman said. “You tried not to think about it, but it still lingers, even today.”

The Bears blotted out those memories Saturday as they charged to an impressive 60-14 victory over Kansas.

“There was emotion for us even before we started,” Oakman said. “Just the fact we had to come in and play after a loss that we feel like we shouldn't have received. That was motivation enough for us.”

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The Baylor defense limited the Jayhawks to a season-low 16 rushing yards. It was the fewest rushing yards by a Baylor opponent since Missouri rushed for 10 yards in 2009.

“The difference was the mentality,” Oakman said. “We played angry from the beginning. We got lax against West Virginia and had to get that mentality at the start and go with it.”

The defensive effort pleased Baylor coach Art Briles, who wanted improvement after seeing the Bears blistered for 99 points in their past two games. They had allowed only 65 points in the first five games of the season.

“They were outstanding,” Briles said. “We felt like we could be dominating defensively, and those guys were.”

Baylor’s offense scored on 11 straight possessions to blow open the game after starting with a three-and-out.

Riding a running game that produced a season-best 326 yards, the No. 13 Bears dominated in the trenches as they scored more points against the Jayhawks than any team in the last three seasons.

“It’s always good to get the running game going because it opens everything else up,” said sophomore running back Devin Chafin, who rushed for a career-best 112 yards and two touchdowns.

Even after some uneven stretches early and four drives in the second quarter that stalled for field goals, Bryce Petty passed for 277 yards and three touchdowns.

It started early as Petty hooked up with Corey Coleman on a 72-yard strike barely three minutes into the game to delight a record McLane Stadium crowd of 47,574.

Petty added another 49-yard TD to Coleman and a 10-yarder to Levi Norwood before he was pulled late in the third. It pushed him past Nick Florence for second place on Baylor’s career passing list with 6,374 yards.

Despite the impressive victory, Petty replied with several robotic answers about getting ready for next week’s game at Oklahoma.

That attention impressed Briles as the Bears try to notch their first victory at Norman after losing 11 previous games there.

“I like it; I should do the same,” Briles said. “I’m proud that his focus and energy and his vision and his direction are right there right now. So that’s exactly where he needs to be.”

KU (2-6, 0-5) lost its 31st straight road game.

“There is no doubt in my mind that we are on a path to improve Kansas football,” interim KU coach Clint Bowen said. “We are 100 percent on board. We will put this behind us and get ready to go tomorrow.”